Regulating apparatus for timepieces.



F. R. ALFORD.

REGULATING APPARATUS FOR TIMEPIECES.

APPLIGATION TILED 11110.30, 1911.

1,029,567, Patented June 11,1912.

UNITED s' ArrnsrAtrE T OFFICE.

FRANK R. ALFORD, OF. WIN STED, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNOR T0 WM. L. GILBERT CLOCK COMPANY, OF WINSTED, CONNECTICUT, A CORPORATION OF.CONNECTICUT.

REGULATING APPARATUS FOR TIMEPIECES.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK R. ALFORD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winsted, Litchfield county, State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Regulating Apparatus for Timepieces, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact description.

My invention relates to an improved regulating means for timepieces. r

The object of the present inventionis to provide a regulating mechanism for time pieces whereby the same may be regulated to a nicety in a very simple manner.

Various advantages other than the one mentioned will be apparent to a mechanic skilled in the art from a reading of the following description.

In the drawings, Figure 1 represents the back of a time piece with which my improved regulating apparatus may be associated. Fig. 2 is a view of the rear of one of the inner plates with part of the regulating device. Fig. 3 is a .sectional view of certam supporting plates with the balance wheel, hair-spring and regulating device associated therewith. Fig. 4 is a relatively enlarged detail view. Fig. 5 is a similar View of another detail. Fig. 6 is a View of a modification.

1 represents a hair-spring which is in this instance the device which must be regulated. The hair-spring and the associated parts may correspond to the hair-spring and the associated parts of the ordinary clock construction, and accordingly, need not be described in detail, it being sufficient to say that said hair-spring is associated with the usual balance wheel shaft 2.

3 is an arm associated with the hairspring 1 in such a manner that the regulation of said spring may be varied by shifting said arm. This arm 3 is mounted upon a lever 4 which in turn is pivotally mounted in a suitable manner as upon a support 5 so that as said lever is moved, it will change the position of the hair spring controlling arm 3.

6 represents a yoke end on the lever 4, in the slot of which yoke is located a pin 7. This pin 7 is carried by an eccentric or crank-arm 8 mounted upon a suitably supported shaft 9. As the shaft 9 is turned, it is obvious that the pin 7- will be moved and will, through its connection with the yoke 6,

v Specification of Letters Patent. Patented June 11, 1912 Application filed December 30, 1911.

Serial No. 668,664.

swing the lever 4. While the lever arm 8 which carries the pin 7 may be comparatively short, it is obvious that an arc of motion of the pin 7 will be sufficient to substantially vary the position of the hairspring regulating arm 3. In the preferred form of construction, the shaft 9 is provided with a hub 10 having a plurality of engageable points or fingers 1111.

12 is a back plate or cover plate for the clock case.

13 is a small and short slot in the plate 12 adjacent to the fingers 11 so that by inserting any small implement, such as a wire, engagement with one or more of said fingers is possible for the purpose of shifting the same to rotate the shaft 9 and to thereby shift the posit-ion of the hair-spring regulating lever arm 3. 7

As is well known in clock construction, it is desirable to have as small an opening as possible in the case for the regulating device. In the present instance the regulating device itself is inclosed wholly within the case, and by reason of the plurality of engageable points furnished, the perforation, through which the implement is passed by which the regulating device is adjusted, may be very small, thereby excluding dust.

In Fig. 6 I have shown a slight modification in which, instead of providing separate fingers upon the hub, I provide the hub 10 as before and extend laterally therefrom, the fan-shaped portion 10 having therein a series of notches or perforations 11 arranged on an are relatively to the axis of the hub 10 and by means of which a small implement 'passed through the opening or slot 13 may be employed for the purpose of shifting the position of the hub 10 and thereby the position of the hair-spring controlling arm 3.

By the foregoing arrangement, an exceedingly delicate adjustment of the hair-spring may be easily effected. Since the entire regulating apparatus is inclosed wholly within the case of the clock, there is no danger of accidentally disturbing any fixed regulation, and yet said regulation may be quickly and easily changed by the simplest of all appliances, for example, a common While I have shown my invention in its preferred form, it is obvious that I may vary the same without departure from the spirit or scope of the invention, for example,

moved plates G are then engaged with the hooks on the opposite side of the shoe and applied against the rim F with the bolts F projecting through the slots 9, the segmental strips H are next applied and the nuts agam engaged and turned down. The slots 9 permit the plates G to be drawn toward the center of the wheel in tightening the shoe upon the tread of the tire.

The loops L are preferably of steel wire, square in cross-section, and as an aid in properly spacing them, a ribbon R of thin metal corrugated as shown, is applied upon the canvas M beforeapplying the rubber N, each depression 1' of the ribbon receiving a loop, and each elevation r separating such loop from the next, the thin ribbon thus located remains in the shoe held by the rubber N.

P is a layer of asbestos cloth or other nonconductor of heat interposed between the canvas M and outer rubber covering D on the tire proper; its function is to lessen the transference of heat from the shoe, due to road-surface friction, to the tire and prevent softening and injury to'the latter from that source.

The tread of the shoe composed of alternating transverse strips of steel and rubber supplied by the loops L and rubber filling N, offers a surface peculiarly eflicient in its grip on the road-surface and in its resistance to skidding, beside possessing exceedingly lasting wear-resisting qualities.

I claim 1. A tire, a rim, segmental plates on each side of said rim, each having a flange folded upon itself, a series of semicircular loops of metal covering the tread portion of said tire, each of said loops separated from the next, a layer of fabric on the inner faces of said loops, rubber in the spaces between said loops and vulcanized to the latter and to said fabric, hooks on the ends of said loops constructed to engage said flanges, and a non-conductor of heat arranged in the 'form of an annular layer between said fabric and tire.

2.. A tire, a rinfisegmental plates on each side of said rim, each having a flange folded upon itself, a series of semicircular loops of metal covering the tread portion of said tire, a ribbon of corrugated metal located on the peripheral line of said loops and separating each from the next, a layer of fabric on the inner faces of said loops, rubber in the spaces bet-ween said loops and vulcanized to the latter and to said fabric and ribbon, and hooks on the ends of said loops constructed to engage said flanges.

3. A tire, a rim, segmental plates on each side of said rim, each having a flange folded upon itself, bolts extending across said rim and connecting said plates, an annular plate supported by said bolts-and'carrying said tire, a series of semicircular loops of metal covering the tread portion of said tire, each of said loops separated from the next, a layer of fabric on the inner faces of said loopsand vulca'nized to the latter, books on the ends of said loops constructed to engage said flanges and non-conducting material interposed-between said fabric and tire.

In testimony that I claim the invention above set forth I ai'lix my signature, in presence of two witnesses.

AUGUST KLEINATLAND.

Witnesses CHARLES R. SEARLE, FRANK W. S. ELSTROTH. 

